Before anyone books eyelid surgery, they ask some version of the same question. Is it worth it? Worth the cost, the recovery, and the decision itself.
There is research on this. In published studies that follow blepharoplasty patients after surgery, satisfaction rates reach roughly 95 percent at three months, with the large majority describing themselves as very satisfied. We recently had 2 male patients who agree with the studies.
A recent patient
He was concerned that his eyes made him appear tired and old.
His examination showed hooding of his upper eyelids from redundant skin and bags under his eyes. We planned a quad blepharoplasty: upper and lower eyelid surgery in a single procedure, performed in our Fullerton office under local anesthesia, with no hospital and no general anesthesia. Doing all 4 lids at the same time does not necessarily increase the recovery time as opposed to only doing the upper eyelids. Two weeks of bruising and swelling is expected.
His after photo shows open upper lids with the crease visible again, and the bags beneath his eyes reduced. At his follow-up visit, he told us he feels more confident and energetic, and that he is very happy with the results.
Another recent patient
He had spent years working hard and taking care of his family. This year, he decided to do something for himself.
His examination showed a similar pattern of changes: hooding above and bags below, more pronounced on one side. His quad blepharoplasty was also performed in our office under local anesthesia.
At his follow-up visit, he told us much the same thing: more confident, full of energy, and glad he did it.
The pattern we see after blepharoplasty
Patients consistently feel happy about their decision to proceed with surgery. The procedure itself as well as the recovery process is often better than what they anticipated. We frequently hear that patients wished they would have done it earlier especially because the results last.
So, is blepharoplasty worth it?
During the consultation, Dr. Peyman examines the skin, the fat, and the muscle function of the eyelids to determine if your concerns can be addressed. He will be honest with you regarding your concerns and what should and/or could be done. Not every case is surgical in nature. In cases where surgery is indicated, it is well worth the cost and recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Blepharoplasty is perhaps the most impactful of all procedures on the face. The results are also very long lasting. These 2 aspects make it well worth the cost of the procedure.
The goal is the same, but the approach is slightly more conservative in men respecting a less rounded upper eyelid and flatter brow.
Most patients are pleasantly surprised by the procedure and say it was better than they thought it would be. Both patients’ procedures described in this post were performed under local anesthesia in the office. Both had very little pain by the evening of surgery when Dr. Peyman called to check on them. Recovery typically involves some bruising and swelling, but not significant pain.
This procedure is performed in a broad range of age groups. Age alone is not a determining factor. What matters more is your general health and desire to want to do surgery. Many of our patients decide they want to do something for themselves later in life and we have not seen any differences in outcomes, whether young or old.
It takes roughly 2 weeks for the majority of the swelling and bruising to resolve. Pain is usually a non-factor after the day of surgery. There are no patches or covers over the eyes enabling patients to be independent during the healing process. Activities such as walking, desk work, television, and reading can be performed early after surgery.
If your eyelids bother you in any way, it is worth getting a consult with an oculofacial surgeon. Dr. Peyman will thoroughly discuss your case, the proposed procedure, and provide examples of before and after photos so you can see what to expect.
Call 714-449-1940. Our office is located in Fullerton and serves patients across Orange County, including Anaheim, Brea, Yorba Linda, Irvine, and Newport Beach. You can view more patient results in our website gallery.
